NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation
Preliminary Evaluation PE20-013: Clogged fuel filter causing a stall.
- Closed
NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation opened Preliminary Evaluation PE20-013 on August 10, 2020 and closed it on January 15, 2021. NHTSA's investigations file lists 4 Honda models for it and links recall 20V-797 to it.
Updated daily from NHTSA's investigations file
Key facts
- NHTSA number
- PE20-013 (also written PE20013)
- Investigation type
- Preliminary Evaluation The first stage of most defect investigations: NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation gathers basic information about a possible safety defect, including from the manufacturer.
- Status
- Closed January 15, 2021
- Opened
- Closed
- Vehicle or equipment manufacturer
- Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
- Components
- Fuel System, Gasoline; Fuel System, Gasoline — Delivery; Fuel System, Gasoline — Delivery — Fuel Pump; Fuel System, Gasoline — Delivery — Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings; Fuel System, Gasoline — Fuel Injection System; Fuel System, Gasoline — Fuel Injection System — Fuel Rail; Fuel System, Gasoline — Fuel Injection System — Injectors; Fuel System, Other; Fuel System, Other — Delivery; Fuel System, Other — Delivery — Fuel Pump; Fuel System, Other — Delivery — Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings; Fuel System, Other — Fuel Filter; Fuel System, Other — Fuel Injection System
- Recall linked by NHTSA
- 20V-797: Fuel Filter May Clog and Cause Engine Stall, reported
- Vehicles and equipment
- 4 Honda models, including the CRF1000 and CRF1000D
NHTSA's summary
As NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation wrote it for Preliminary Evaluation PE20-013.
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this Preliminary Evaluation (PE) on August 10th, 2020 to investigate 26 reports of stalling due to clogged fuel filters on model year (MY) 2018 - 2020 Honda African Twin (CRF 1000 - 1100) motorcycles.
Many of the owners allege the subject vehicle would suddenly stall while riding. Although the stalling speeds varied, most consumers allege the stalling occurred at highway speeds. This stalling condition is caused by clogged fuel filters. The subject vehicle fuel filters become contaminated with zinc-oxide (corrosion). The corrosion is coming from the inside of the fuel tank, along the end seam of a joint weld. The corrosion clogs the fuel filter, restricts fuel flow to the engine, and subsequently causes a sudden engine stall.
During complainant interviews, ODI learned the bikes can sometimes be restarted after the initial stall. However, several consumers described this restart as causing a false sense of security.
After restarting the bike and attempting to accelerate/merge into traffic, the bike quickly stalls again. This time the rider is placed in the middle of traffic, potentially causing a crash or risk of injury.
On October 9, 2020, ODI received Honda?s Information Request (IR) response and learned that Honda was aware of 36 complaints, 87 field reports and 83 warranty claims of stalling related to clogged fuel filters. There were no claims of crashes or property damage associated with the alleged defect on the subject motorcycles. Additionally, Honda initiated three different modifications or changes to the fuel tank during production. On March 11, 2020, Honda released a customer satisfaction campaign to remove the zinc oxide that can contaminate the fuel pump filter, causing reduction of fuel flow. The part numbers for the fuel tank did not change after the implementation of the zinc oxide removal process. The process improvement was a running-change and no parts were withdrawn from production. On October 5, 2020 Honda added a new maximum contamination specification. This new specification was initiated to limit the contamination from the tank supplier. The tank supplier improved the cleaning process to meet the low contamination limit.
Discussions and analysis of the data between ODI and Honda resulted in the manufacturer recalling certain 2018-2019 Africa Twin Adventure Sports (CRF1000L) and 2020 Africa Twin Adventure Sports (CRF1100L) motorcycles.
Contaminants inside the fuel tank may cause the fuel filter to clog, resulting in an engine stall, and increasing the risk of a crash.
ODI is closing this PE with Honda?s voluntary safety recall 20V-797. With the recall action taken by Honda, this investigation is closed, as further use of agency resources does not appear to be warranted.
The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exist on other models or MY vehicles outside of the recall scope. The agency reserves the right to take further action if warranted by the circumstances.
Vehicles and equipment listed for this investigation
NHTSA's investigations file lists these vehicles and equipment for Preliminary Evaluation PE20-013. A listed model year means only that an investigation names it; it says nothing about any particular vehicle. Model years with a try.vin recall page link to that page's NHTSA investigations section.
What an NHTSA investigation is
NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) looks into possible safety defects in vehicles and equipment, often after owner complaints. An investigation usually starts as a Preliminary Evaluation, or as a Recall Query when it concerns whether an existing recall covers the right vehicles or fixes the problem, and ODI can upgrade it to a more detailed Engineering Analysis. A Defect Petition asks NHTSA to open an investigation, and Audit and Equipment Queries are administrative investigations into whether companies complied with federal vehicle safety requirements, such as reporting, recall and certification rules.
An open investigation is not a finding that a safety defect exists, and NHTSA can close one without a recall.
To see whether a specific vehicle has an open recall, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Honda VIN check: decode a VIN to see its year, make and model.
Sources
NHTSA's investigation record for PE20-013
Investigation details come from NHTSA's investigations file, which try.vin imports once a day. The investigation types are described from the U.S. Department of Transportation Inspector General's May 2023 report on NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation, NHTSA's petition rules (49 CFR Parts 552 and 557) and NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation procedures. How try.vin reads NHTSA investigations.